Typewriting-machine



C. OLIVETTI.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC.2,1918.

Patented Oct; 26,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.v

C. OLIVETTI.

TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLItIATION FILED DEC:2,1918.

Patented Oct. 26, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qtiotweq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAMILLO OLIVETTI, O-F IVREA, ITALY.

TYPEWRITING-M ACHIN E.

To all whom it maywncern:

Be it known that 'I, GAMrLLo OLIVETTI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Ivrea, Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting-Machines, of which the following is of obtaining a typewriter in which the writing is visible and in which the movement of the levers s as easy, rap d and unlform as possible andthe construction and the assembling of the different parts are rendered easy and practical. One form which the improvements may take is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in'which for greater c'learness those parts of the machine have been omitted which do not directly relate to the invention.

Though the present invention is applicable' to every kind of keyboard machine, as for example to the typewriter in which a type-bar bears one or more characters, the

annexed drawings relate to a machine, which is provided with two characters for each type-bar. V

The mechanism which actuates the car- .Iiage of the platen with relation to the type is not referred to either in the description or in the drawings, since it is not comprised in the present invention.

Figure Iis a side view of the lever system which transmits movement from the key to the type-bar and from the said typebar .to the 'escapement, one of the central bars of the machine being shown by way of example.

Fig. II is, a back view of the lever system which transmits. the movement of the typebar plate to the type-bar, and the movement raised is shown by Way of example.

of the'universal-bar to the escapement. A lateral type-bar at the moment of being Fig. III 'is a section of the rod which transmits the movement of the type-bar.

Fig. IV-is a view of a plat. for holding the small springs which oppose the working movements of the type-bars; these springs Specification of Letters Patent. P t t t, 2 1 2 I Application filed December 2, 1918. Serial No. 265,028.

hasten the type-bars to their resting position.

Figs. and VI are diagrammatic views of two analogous forms of mechanism.

Fig. VII is a side view of the form which can also be given to the first lever which is actuated by the key. 7

Fig'VIII is'a detail of one of the parts which transmit movement from the lever to the escapement.

Referring to Figs. I and II, 1 represents the key which i struck -by the finger of the operator. The stem 2 of the key is guided in the opening 3 formed in the plate 4 placed in front of the machine and fixed to the frame, and is connected by the pivot 5 to the key lever 6 which has the form shown in the drawing. This lever pivots on a pin 7 which, in practice, consists of steel wire fixed in a groove cut in a small block 8, and isguided in its movement by a lot made in the said block 8. The block 8 is connected to a plate 9 fixed to the frame of the machine. There are one lever 6 and one block 8 for each key of the machine and they are arranged in rows in the usual way on the 1 key-board of the machine.

In Fig. I the plate9 is represented in section with four rows of blocks 8 in the usual position for a standard keyboard.

It is to be observed that the plate 9 has elongated holes which give passage to the stems 2.

The movement of the key lever 6 is transmitted to the sub-lever 13 by the rod 11 which is connected by the pivots 10 and 12 to the said levers 6 and 13.

The pivots l0 and 12 may be cylindrical but preferably they are spherical. Thepivot 12 may be held by pring ressure in the branches of a spring fork 1 which is provided at its extremity with a screw fixed tothe rod.11. This spring fork is generally employed in typewriters and is not considered as part of my invention.

The sub-lever 13 is pivoted upon a wire 14 fixed in a recess in the plate 15 which has the section shown in the drawings.

This plate has practically the shape of an, arc of a circle, (see Fig. II) and is provided with radial-slots corresponding to each typebar of the machine.

- The movement of the lever 13 is transmitted to the type-bar 21 by a link 19 which is pivoted at 18 and 20 to said lever and type bar respectively. The type bar 21 made of steelplate, pivots on the wire 22, rises, and strikes, with its typl -head 24 against the printing point 0 of the plate 29.,

The link 19 may be constituted by two small plates l9and 19 (Fig. III) of spring material, which clam between them two spherical pivots 18 an 20. The ends of the pivot 18 are riveted to the two small plates, while the other pivot 20 is riveted only to the plate 19', the other end of pivot 20 being held by means of a small stem, which is en aged in a hole in the other. small plate.

wing to the resilience of the two plates 19-19', the stem of the pivot 20 can be forced out of the hole in which it normally is held and the plates can be spread apart.

in order to afford a passage to the extremity of the type-bar during the assembling of the machine.

The type-bar 21 normally rests adjacent its type-head 24 upon a pad or cushion 58 as in the ordinary typewriters.

The, type-head 24 is bent at an angle equal to that formed by the type-bar, with the vertical.

' At their rear ends the type-bars are enlarged (Fig. I) and as in the Underwood machine, they are guided in slots cut in a cast iron plate or type-bag; segment 28 fixed to the frame of the machine. In asuitable recess in this segment is fixed the tempered steel wire 22 on which the type-bars turn.

The extremity 25 of the type-bar is hooked so that it can be made to clasp the wire 22- without removing the wire.

The parts described are so constructed and disposed as to cause all the key levers 6' and the respective rods 11 to move practically in vertical planes which are parallel 'to' the median vertical plane which through the printing point O.

All the pivots 12 must..be placed at the intersectionof the plane in which the lever passes 6 and the respective rod 11 move, with the planeof movement of the sub lever 13, which is practically. the plane of the corresponding slot of theplate 15.

Allthe links 19 move also'in planes parthe pivots 12 and 14 and the line of the rod- 11 should be nearly 90.

The sub-lever 13 may be madein different shapes,but the shape shown in the drawingsis themost convenient, preserving from dust the part guided in the slot of the plate 15y The pivot 12 is on a projection 16 on the said lever 13 and this projection is bent allel tothe said vertical median plane of order that its end, which carries the pivot 12, may lie in a vertical plane and keep prac* tically this position during the action too.

. The lower part of the sub-lever 13 hasa slot 30 in which the pivot wire 14 can enter; this slot is analogous to the slots of the lever 6' and the type-bar.21, so that 'the levers 6 and\13 and the typebar 21 may be assembled and dismounted without removing the wires 7,1422 upon which they turn.

In order to render the back movement ofthe type-bar more rapid and also for keep- Of course, there will be as many springs 32, hooks 33 and holes 34-as type-bars, and a the holes 34 will be so disposed in the plate 35 (see also Fig. IV) as to correspond to the.

radial slots in the plate 15.

The speed of movement of type-bar and. the impulse to be given by the finger on the key, in order to obtain the movement of the said type-bar depend upon the tension of the spring 32. v

In order to regulatethe tension of the spring 32 and consequently the touch? of the machine, the plate '35 may be more or less moved, parallel to itself. For this purpose the plate 35 is provided at its ends with two projections 37 on which are pivoted two curved arms 38 carriedby a rock shaftsupported at its ends by two pivots 4O fixed'to the framemf the machine.

its middle is fixed a small bar 41 which is fslidable endwise through an opening 42 in the frame of the machine. To the screwthreaded end of the bar 41' are applied a washer 43, and two nuts 44-45. By turn;

' ing the nuts 44-45 the plate 35 may be more or less removed from the plate 15 in order to vary the length and consequently the tension of all the springs.

As-the bar 41, rigidly connected to the I plate 35, is guided in the hole 42 and the two pivots 36, also rigidly connected to said plate, are guided by the arms '38, the plate ;will always be caused to move practically parallel to itself. r

In order to quicken its back movement each type-bar bears toward its lower end a curved projection 23 which in its movement strikes against a plate 46 bent into-the form of an arc, the center of which is the. printing point C), said plate extending through the entire angle in which are disposed the type-bars, so that each type-bar in .its movement strikes against a part of the are shaped plate 46. This plate 46 has a shape similar to the plate which in the Underwood typewriters acts as universal bar and has a similar duty, viz., to impart a backward movement to the type-bar,to maintain the same in its place during the movement, and' at the same time to transmit the movement to the escapement and to the ribbon, but is guided in its movement in a different way.

The plate 46 is reinforced both by a plate 47 which is attached thereto at its ends, and by means of cross-plates 48 having openings inwhich are engaged two pivots 49 carried by two curved arms 50. These arms 50 are fixed to .a rockshaft 31 whose ends move on two pivots 53 carried by two projections 52 fixed to the segment 28 which is fixed to the frame of the machine. I

Rigidly connected 1 to the system of the plates 464748 is another plate 54 of suitable length provided at its end with a hole which serves as a bearing for a pivot 55- fixed to an arm .56 mechanicallyconnected to the little shaft 57 which transmits the movement of the type-bars to the escapement and to the ribbon elevating mechanism.

Thesemechanisms are omitted in the desc'ription'as form invention.

A spring, not represented in drawings, operating on the shaft 51 or on the arm 56 returns the parts-to normal position. 1

The entire system, pivoting. on the tw fixed points 53 and on the fixed bearings of the shaft 57 being articulated at the points 49 and 55, moves practically 'parallel to itself. I y

All pivots. 53 and 49,-55-57 may be substituted by ball bearings to obtain "a greater smoothness of working.

Moreover, the end of the plate 54 may be shaped-as a fork to receive the pivot 55 as shown in Fig. VIILsuch arrangement facilitating the assembling of the machine. In the above described mowement, the type-bar is pushed bythe sub-lever 13 by means of the rod 11. I Instead of being pushed the type-bar may be pulled as, illustrated in the diagrammatic Fig. VI without any substantial change in the system of the movement.

The lever 6 may be formed in different shapes, among which is to be noted the shape illustrated in Fig. VII without any substantial change in the system of the movement.

I claim- 1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a set of key levers; a set of typebars; and a connection between each 'key lever and the corresponding type-bar comprising a sub-lever pivoted at one of its ends to the machine and connected intermediate of its ends with means for operating it, said meansco'mprising a rod engaging said sublever and connected to the keylever, said 7 in front of the supporting plate; a connecting no part of the present. the machine frame, the sub-levers and their rod moving in a verticalplane parallel to the median vertical planeof the machine in operating said sub-lever, and said connection also comprising a link pivoted at one end to the end of the sub-lever and at its other endto the type-bar, said link moving also in a vertical plane parallel to the median vertical plane of the machine, substantially as described. i

2. In a typewriter, the combination with the machine frame, the sub-levers and their actuating devices; and the type-bars connected with the sub-levers; ofa supporting plate with which the sub-levers are pivotally associated; an adjustable plate located ing spring between the adjustable plate and each'sub-lever; and means for adjusting the second-named plate to regulate the tension of said springs comprising a rocking support for said plate and a guide on said plate slid-ably and adjustablyengaged with the frame. to insure a bodily parallel movement of the plate during adjustment.

3. In a typewriter, the combination with actuating devices, and the type-bars connected with the sublevers; of a supporting 'plate with which the sub-levers are pivotally associated; an adjustable plate located in front of the supporting plate; a connecting spring between the adjustable plate and each sub-lever and means for adjusting the second-named plate to regulate the tension .of said springs comprising a rocking support for said plate, a laterally-projecting guide member slidably engaged in a guide opening in the adjacent portion of the frame to insure a bodily parallel movement of the plate during adjustment, and adjustable deviceson said guide member to engage said frame and thereby 'hold said member in adjusted position.

4. In a typewriter, the combination with. the machine frame, the sub-levers and their actuating devices, and the type-bars connected with the sub-levers; of a'supporting plate with which the sub-levers are pivotally associated an adjustable plate located in front of the supporting plate; aeconnecting spring between the adjustable plate and each sub-lever; and means for adjusting the second-named plateto regulate the tension of said springs comprising a rock shaft having a pair oflateral arms fixed to it, said arms being pivoted attheir free ends to the adjustable plate, and a laterally-projecting guide member on said plate slidably and adjustably engaged with the adjacent portion of the frame to insure a bodily parallel movement of the plateduring adjustment. 1.25

In testimony whereof I affii my signature.

1 CA-MILLO OLIVETTL- 

